King, Still }((King??

Martin Luther King Jr. is probably the most recognizable and influential person involved in the civil rights movement, and the fact that each year he is celebrated each year on his own day is testament to this. He earned the right of having his own day of celebration through his non-violent efforts to gain equal rights for people of all colors. All of his efforts definitely earned him the right as King of the civil rights movement, suitable to his last name. But,  I feel that as time progresses and the gap in time between then and now his signifigance seems to becoming not as important, Now a days I see it as the youth ( including me at times) are seeing MLK as just another reason to get a day off of school. But, it's not that what he did isn't being seen as important, because it seems that MLK is the only person that is brought up when talking about the civil rights movement. So, he is definitely not being forgotten but times are changing so that space can be made for the leaders our generation to claim the throne as a King. in my eyes and the eyes of many others King is definitely still King, but an heir to the throne is coming.

Phantogram-Mouthful of Diamonds

Ok, so what can i say about Phantogram? A better question would be, what can't i say about them? I discovered this band this summer, and  I have to say that I am somewhat sad to let this song reach the masses. But, in the end I know that my efforts are for the greater good. So, Phantogram is an electronic rock duo from New York. In most music reviews, it's common for the reviewer to say that a certain musicians sound is unique, but in this case they really are. Their sound has many influences that include detroit hip-hop, acid jazz, and indie rock roots. The song that I'm reviewing "Mouthful of Diamonds" is one of there most popular songs and has a very easy listening feel to it. I feel that they have a great grasp on sampling and have an experimental edge to them that allows them room for improvement and the expectaion of something new. I have to say that i love this band and can't wait for them to drop another album. And by the way, their current album Eyelid Movies is definitely worth BUYING (oooohhh scary). Just trust in me that it will be one of those songs you can't stop listening to. Peace.

Jay and Nickk

So Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby, Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway, Nick Gatsby and Jay Carraway. To me personally I feel that their relationship provides each of them with something that the other can give. Mostly Jay provides Nick with a visual of things that he hates but, secretly wants at the same time. For Gatsby, Nick is the person that Gatsby secretly wants to be but, doesn't try to be because that isn't what is socially accepted. So, basically Nick and Gatsby's relationship is what every man of the 1920's should want to be. But, this is not all that the two men are using the relationship for. I feel that Nick is also using Gatsby as entertainment, something to provide Nick with something to do in his spare time. Ultimately Nick wishes to fully unravel the crumbled paper ball of a lie Gatsby has fed to people who ask. Throughout the story so far Nick points out numerous times where Gatsby's past comes into question which shows a sort of obsession for Nick to really understand Gatsby. Gatsby isn't only be used here, he is also using Nick to get to Daisy. This might sound selfish and shallow, but if you really think about it sort of makes sense. Gatsby is truely in love with Daisy and would do anything just to be close to her, such as buying a house and throwing massive parties in hopes of her one day stumbling into one one day. So, if he is willing to blow vast amounts of money on her, why wouldn't he be willing to risk a friendship?
Although Nick and Jay are really only using their relationship as a modem for them to get to something that they need, i do feel that they have to potential to become actual friends. Peace.

Winter Poem

So the winter has come, what a disappointment
Frigid winds blowing hard enough to cause disjointment
The season of influenza, be sure to make an appointment
With the doctor that is
The season where faces meet the north
And shovels and salt meet the porch
Waking in the morning trying to find a reason to push forth
Onward to my next destination
Every aspect is planned in the matters of my transportation
All formed around the idea of heat conservation
But none the less mother nature's ugly side is waiting
To capture me in her arctic choke hold
Bad enough to make me want to toke coal
In my back pack
Quick steps through the snow create tracks
So the brave souls who take on the streets behind can trace back
All the way to where it was once warm.
Church.

I am a Plow

plow:  A farm implement consisting of a heavy blade at the end of a beam, usually hitched to a draft team or motor vehicle and used for breaking up soil and cutting furrows in preparation for sowing.


 So, this is what they say a plow is in generic terms. But, I'm actually a plow and I don't think that this definitition doesn't accurately describe me.For starters plows are used to break up, batter, and pulvarize dirt. These words make it seem as though plows are cruel and brutal, but in my case i perform the same task but for the sake of fertilizing and bringing new life to the dirt.

As a plow I am owned by a former rock star turned vegan farmer, living and working a couple miles out of Seattle. Amazing right? I was painted gold and signed by friends family, and whoever comes by to see me. The signatures  reflect that the people that I come in contact with add to my character. 

Da First Quarter

Ok, so the first quarter is done and over with. This quarter gave me an idea of what the rest of this year is going to be like, so I guess there are a few adjustments I need to make. Well, for starters I have to say good job Mr.McCarthy not to suck up or anything. I feel that the pieces of literature we read were really interesting. I think that we should do less questions about what we read, and instead we should have more in depth discussions in class. I also like the opening journals that we have that provoke my thoughts and allow me to think abstractly. So, overall good first quarter, hopefully i will have a better second. Peace.

Freedom...

Modern day slavery. Does it really even exist still? Well that all comes down to what your definiition of slavery is. Well I know for a fact that young girls are kidnapped and sold as sex slaves in foreign countries, so I guess that qualifies. Well, let's take into account the poor sweatshop workers over seas, laboring away in a warehouse basement for almost no pay. Now, i guess those are both close enough to the enslavement of Africans in America less than 200 years ago. But, that doesn't cover the entire spectrum for me. Being the person that I am I want to take my definition outside the box, how about modern day mental slavery. Pharrell Williams once said, " You are only truely free once your mind no longer realizes boundaries."


At first when I heard this i casted it off as some cliche, primodonna hipster jibberish, but later I genuinely began to think about what he'd said. Let's really think about how much our minds hender us in our thought proccess of what we can and can't do. Let's take into account how many times the word "can't" getting in the way of what it is we want to do. Are we slaves to our distorted ideas of what we can make possible for ourselves. Well, I say YES! I feel that when we are born we have this hidden part in our minds that restricts us from reaching our full potential and trying to fulfill our dreams. Not matter how much you hear as a child from your parents that you can do whatever it is you set your mind to it doesn't actually register. I fell that the epiphany of the non-existance of artificial boundaries in our minds takes a journey in discovering ourselves to find. I find myself at times getting past boundaries of doing what I want to do, to just run into the even bigger boundary of how I can go about accomplishing it. I am a slave within my own mind of reaching accomplishing my personal goals. But, as history shows I will overcome, it will just take time and experience for my light to click on.